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Cardiac and diabetes risk assessment test Hertta
The Hertta risk test determines cardiac and diabetes risks from a single blood sample. You can book an appointment online or, alternatively, visit any Mehiläinen laboratory during the laboratory opening hours without booking an appointment.
Customer service and booking
010 414 0200 (local network rate/mobile charge)
At Mehiläinen, a test usually requires a doctor's referral and is conducted as part of a broader health examination or on the recommendation of a specialist.
Visit Mehiläinen when you need comprehensive diagnostics and possibly follow-up treatments, especially if there is a suspicion of cancer or a need for more detailed monitoring.
Puhti is a company owned by Mehiläinen that offers a service for measuring and monitoring one's own health.
Visit Puhti when you want to quickly and easily check your PSA levels. You can order tests from Puhti's website without a doctor's referral. The sample collection is done at Mehiläinen's laboratory. Results are presented in a clear format in the Oma Puhti report. If needed, you can order Mehiläinen's doctor's consultation as a separate service after the tests.
Cardiac and diabetes risk assessment test Hertta at a glance
- The Hertta cardiac risk test is a blood test that predicts the risk of a heart attack and diabetes in the next 1–10 years.
- Once the risk has been detected, it can be reduced through lifestyle and medication changes as well as close monitoring.
- The Hertta cardiac risk test measures the risk of a heart attack and related death more accurately than traditional cholesterol and lipid tests.
What is the Hertta cardiac risk test?
A cardiac and diabetes risk test (Hertta), available from Mehiläinen’s laboratories, can predict your risk of a heart attack or diabetes in the next few (1–10) years. The test is based on a single blood sample. Timely information can be used to reduce the risks through changes in lifestyle or medication, close monitoring and other measures. The sooner a risk is identified, the more you can mitigate it.
The cardiac risk test, developed in Finland, also provides a reliable prognosis for those who have no known risk of coronary artery disease. Studies show that the Hertta risk test measures the risk of a heart attack and related death more accurately than any of the current laboratory tests for cholesterol or lipids or other tests commonly used in such risk assessments.
The Hertta risk test is a ceramide test (CERT). CERT stands for Coronary Event Risk Test.
To whom is the cardiac risk test recommended?
The Hertta risk test is especially useful for anyone with a family history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or predisposing risk factors. The test is also suitable for those who want to take care of their heart health and control their risk of diabetes.
The test is also useful for patients with coronary artery disease, for whom the risk of a new cardiac event can be assessed. There are an estimated 180,000 people with coronary artery disease in Finland. The results of the test can be used to make changes to medication and increase monitoring, which reduces the risk of heart attacks and death. Other risk reduction measures may also be considered.
There are an estimated 660,000 people at risk of coronary artery disease in Finland. The risk is not necessarily visible as elevated cholesterol or other known risk factors, but can only be detected with the risk test. There are approximately 300,000 people with type 2 diabetes in Finland and, in addition, about 150,000 people have diabetes without knowing it. The risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, being physically active, adopting a healthy diet and managing stress.
Why should the risk of heart attacks and diabetes be determined?
- Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death, accounting for 30% of all deaths. The earlier the risk is identified, the better the possibility of managing the risk.
- Every ten minutes in Finland, someone has a heart attack due to coronary artery disease, and about 30 people die of coronary artery disease every day.
- Almost half of heart attacks occur in people with normal cholesterol levels, and up to 20% of cases involve people without any known risk factor.
- According to the latest research data, cholesterol testing alone is not sufficient to determine the risk. The risk may not be visible as elevated cholesterol or other known risk factors, but may be determined with the Hertta test.
How do I prepare for and book the Hertta risk test?
Your occupational health physician or another doctor treating you may recommend the Hertta risk test to you. You can also have the Hertta risk test without a doctor's referral.
You can book an appointment at any Mehiläinen laboratory online or visit a laboratory without an appointment during the laboratory opening hours. Please check the opening hours of the Mehiläinen laboratory in advance.
If you are in doubt about what to do in your case, we recommend that you contact our customer service before you go to a laboratory. You can call +358 (0)10 414 00 (local network rate/mobile charge) for more information and guidance.
The Hertta risk test is performed on a blood sample collected at a Mehiläinen laboratory. You can eat and drink normally before the sample collection, and the sample collection does not need to be performed at a certain time of the day.
The Hertta risk test includes:
blood sample collection at your preferred Mehiläinen location
the results in OmaMehiläinen
the opportunity to discuss lifestyle changes or further examinations with the specialists of Mehiläinen’s heart hotline.
The test is not currently eligible for Kela reimbursement.
The results of the laboratory test are recorded in OmaMehiläinen. The results are usually available within a few days of the sample collection.
The Hertta cardiac risk test does not include a separate statement on the results of the laboratory package. By discussing the results of laboratory tests with your doctor to identify health risks, you can receive a professional interpretation of the results as well as instructions for promoting your own health. You can easily enquire about the results through Digital Clinic or by booking an appointment with a doctor through OmaMehiläinen or our online appointment booking service or by calling Mehiläinen’s customer service on +358 (0)10 414 00 (local network rate/mobile charge).
If you had the test on the basis of a doctor's referral, you should agree with your doctor on how the results will be delivered and what further guidance will be offered.
Take into account in the price list
No Kanta or outpatient clinic fees are added to the price of laboratory tests. The price is not affected by the time (evening or weekend), and no separate fee is charged for tests that need to be analyzed urgently.| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Alcohol marker test (B-PEth) Alcohol marker test, i.e. blood phosphatidylethanol concentration. | 100,00 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Borrelia antibodies (S-BorrAb) | 121,60 € No Kela reimbursement |
| C-reactive protein, inflammation test (P-CRP) | 53,70 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Vitamin D levels (S-D-25) | 95,30 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Prostate-specific antigen, prostate examination (S-PSAtot+V) Totaali ja vapaa. | 89,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Ferritin (S-Ferrit) | 70,30 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Follicle-stimulating hormone (S-FSH) | 100,20 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Respiratory virus test (InfRSVCVAg) The package covers: Influenza A and B, RSV, and coronaviruses rapid test. | 187,40 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Respiratory Virus PCR Test (InfRSVCVNho) The package covers: Influenza A and B, RSV, and coronaviruses PCR test. | 210,80 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Antigen detection of respiratory viruses (RespCV19) | 289,20 € No Kela reimbursement |
| HI virus (S-HIVAbAg) | 69,70 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Influenza A and B (InfA+B Ag) | 85,80 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Influenza A and B + RSV (InflAB+RSV) The package covers: Influenza A and B, RSV. | 94,00 € No Kela reimbursement |
| INR-test (P-INR) Thromboplastin time. | 47,60 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Celiac disease screening test The package covers: S-IgA and S-tTGAbA. | 127,49 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Examination of thyroid activity (S-T4-V) Serum free thyroxine levels. | 89,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Examination of thyroid activity (S-TSH) Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. | 80,70 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhoea test (U-CtGcNhO) | 109,10 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Creatinine, kidney function test (P-Krea) | 43,50 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Blood lipids, cholesterol (P-Lipidit) | 87,50 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Lactose tolerance test (B-Lakt-D) | 112,20 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Examination of the liver, glutamyl transferase activity (P-GT) | 39,70 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Examination of the liver, alanine aminotransferase activity (P-ALAT) | 39,70 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Mononucleosis, quick test (S-MonAb) | 47,40 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Mykoplasma quick test (S-MypnAbM-O) | 78,60 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Papa-test (Pt-Papa1) | 98,50 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Basic blood count (B-PVK+T) Leukocytes, erythrocytes and thrombocytes, red blood cell indices and distribution width. | 57,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Quantitative pregnancy test (S-HCG) Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. | 82,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Group A Streptococcus (Ps-StrAAg) Group A Streptococcus test from a throat swab. | 82,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Group A Streptococcus and adenovirus (Ps-NieluAg) Group A Streptococcus and adenovirus test from a throat swab. | 92,20 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Testosterone (S-Testo) Sensitive method. | 102,48 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Blood haemoglobin level (B-Hb) | 26,90 € No Kela reimbursement |
| White blood cell count (B-Leuk) | 31,89 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Blood sugar after fasting (fP-Gluk) Glucose | 39,69 € No Kela reimbursement |
| Chemical screening of urine (U-KemSeul) For screening infections and diseases of the urinary tract. The test includes the following: protein, glucose, white blood cells, blood and bacteria. | 49,50 € No Kela reimbursement |
Frequently asked questions about the Hertta risk test
The heart risk number indicates the risk of myocardial infarction and cardiac death:
- 0–2: low risk
- 3–6: medium risk
- 7–9: increased risk
- 10–12: high risk, i.e. the risk of a person having a heart attack is significant and they are recommended to contact a doctor about the result.
Components of the Hertta test can also be used to determine the risk of developing diabetes. An algorithm that combines the ratio of certain lipids included in the Hertta test with a person’s age, gender and body mass index to assess the risk of developing diabetes was developed in a recently published study.
On the basis of the risk number obtained from the test, the person is placed in one of the three risk categories:
- 0–5: low risk
- 5–15: medium risk
- 15+: high risk, discussing further measures with a doctor is recommended. The doctor will always assess the situation and measures on a case-by-case basis.
Hertta provides a statistical risk assessment. Low test scores do not mean that you will 100% not have a heart attack in the future.
Any changes in treatment should always be discussed with your doctor. Do not stop your medication even if the Hertta test score is low. The low level of risk may, for example, be caused by the treatment you receive.
The cardiac risk test is a new way of investigating the risk of having a heart attack in advance, reducing the risk through lifestyle changes and mitigating the risk of heart attacks with changes in medication.
Depending on the situation, however, more extensive cardiac examinations are recommended to, for example, identify any stenosis of the coronary arteries. In addition to the Hertta cardiac risk test, important laboratory tests include the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test (S-hCRP) and the apolipoprotein test (S-APot), which can be performed using the same blood sample. The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test indicates the inflammatory state of the body, which is a risk factor for vascular diseases. Apolipoproteins are parts of blood lipoproteins that indicate the level of risk more accurately than cholesterol.
